Can freesia be grown as a houseplant?

Freesia is a charming delicate flower with a subtle subtle scent of summer, freshness, lily of the valley, fruits and something unknown, not desired. One of the most beautiful, refined, elegant garden and home decorative flowering plants. Not every grower will undertake to grow freesia. She gained fame as a difficult-to-grow culture, appearing for a short time in flower shops as part of magnificent bouquets, and then disappearing until the next year. But is freesia really that hard to grow?

Freesia: planting, growing and care at home

Of course, this is not the easiest culture to care for, but it is also far from a capricious azalea, for example, freesia. It belongs to bulbous flower plants, accordingly, it is grown like any bulbous or corm flower. With some peculiarities and nuances, but without super-efforts. And it is not necessary to grow freesia only for cutting - it blooms beautifully and for a long time in a pot on a windowsill and in a garden flower bed.

Freesia is a plant from the Iris family with very fragrant funnel-shaped flowers of various colors.

Where did freesia come from?

The flower belongs to the genus of perennial grasses with corms. The freesia family is Iris. This "lady" is a direct relative of the irises. More than twenty varieties are grown in decorative garden and indoor culture. The most popular species is the crossed hybrid, which appeared as a result of the labor of breeders from several varieties of wild freesia more than a century ago.

Freesia pink

Freesia was "born" in South Africa. There it continues to grow in nature on the banks of African rivers. In the wild, this herbaceous shrub reaches an impressive size - about one and a half meters in height, and forms rather impenetrable fragrant flowering thickets.

Freesia in the garden - beauty and tenderness all summer

Freesia in the garden

The name of the flower was given by a botanist and an unknown doctor from Germany, Friedrich Fries. He did not regret his name for the African find, which made him famous all over the world.Today this amazing flower is known and loved by flower growers all over the world. Freesia is at the peak of popularity and, it seems, is not going to leave it.

Freesia in the room

Freesia blooms in a pot

How to tame an "African princess" and make her bloom in an apartment or in a flower bed in the climatic zone of the middle zone. Is it possible? Perhaps, if you follow the rules for caring for freesia and create favorable conditions for the plant.

Bright freesia flowers

Why freesia is good

Everyone! But the plant has several, certainly outstanding qualities, for which it is distinguished by flower growers from the order of bulbous and corms.

This plant:

• looks elegant, festive, elegant in any interior, being its decoration;
• looks great in a flower bed, combined with perennial bulbous flowers and annuals;
• looks great in any bouquet, giving it elegance and chic (recently it has become fashionable to use freesia in a bride's bouquet);

  Bouquet of white freesias

• unlike other bulbous "congeners", it stands for a very long time without fading (freesia flowers in a spike-shaped inflorescence bloom gradually);
• has such a peculiar and original aroma that it has replaced jasmine, lilac, lily of the valley and other flowers with persistent classical smells in the perfumery industry;
• is one of the favorite plants of landscape designers, having received from them the first place and an excellent rating for style;

  Yellow freesia - decorative garden flowers

• can be grown both in the garden and in the apartment, on the balcony, in the greenhouse, with equal success.

  Freesia in a pot

Variety of varieties

Freesia can grow up to a meter (in accordance with the characteristics of the variety). The plant has a bare, leafless stem with multiple branches. Corm - with a brownish-gray scaly coating. Thin, sharp leaves, like sedge, are only one and a half centimeters wide, and can reach twenty in length.

The flowers are quite large, up to five centimeters long. Collected in paired or one-sided inflorescences. The petals can be painted in the usual colors (white, orange, red, pink, yellow), or they can have an unusual shade (purple, lemon green, burgundy, blue). The middle of the flower in certain varieties is contrasting in color to the petals.

By the way! The fruits of freesia are seed capsules. But propagation by seeds is impractical. Freesias are propagated by corms, and only breeders use seeds for breeding new varieties.

Freesia corms

There are only three main types of freesias successfully grown in indoor floriculture.

One is a hybrid, obtained by crossing the first two parental species, and is the most popular in floriculture. From all three species, through selection, many interesting varieties have been obtained, terry and smooth-petal, multi-colored and variegated, large and miniature.

Freesia varieties

Broken freesia (white)	The species from which the popular varieties "Alba" and "Fragrant" originated. This is a miniature plant form that does not grow taller than forty centimeters. Thin stems have a spreading shape. The spikelet is paniculate, there are up to five flowers on it. Flowering begins in April. Petals color: white, yellow, orange, variegated.
"Fragrant"	Large-flowered, up to seven flowers can be located on a miniature stem. Possesses a memorable bright aroma with a distinctly present note of lily of the valley. The color of the petals from the edge is lemon yellow, to the base - orange-orange.
"Alba"	Differs in large white flowers with lilac shading applied to them (nature). The inside of the flower is sunny yellow. It looks very impressive.
Freesia Armstrong	A medium-sized species, which under development conditions is better than average, can grow up to 70 cm. Large bell-shaped flowers are in panicles of 5 pieces. The petal colors are all shades of red and pink. They bloom in May, live for about a month. The most popular variety of this type is Cardinal.
"Cardinal" Freesia	They are rightfully considered the most elegant variety. A tall, up to 70 cm bush gives at least three peduncles of 30-35 cm each. They are decorated with dark scarlet flowers, 10-11 pieces per panicle. The length of the inflorescence can be up to 9 cm. On the red "body" of the petal, yellow spots, yellow stamens, purple anthers and a dark blue pistil are visible. Here is such an elegant and majestic "Cardinal".
Freesia hybrid	Not only is she herself a derivative of two other species, but also varieties are derived from her. But the beauty of "genetic" and parental traits is enough for everyone. The hybrid freesia itself grows up to a meter, branching strongly during growth. The inflorescences reach 7 cm in diameter, and there can be 6-7 flowers on each cluster. The aroma is strong, fragrant. Colors: lilac, violet, two-tone and variegated, crimson, yellow. The following varieties were derived from hybrid freesia: "Ballerina", "Rose Marie", "Pimperina".
"Ballerina"	Its base is yellow, like chicken fluff, the edges of the petals are snow-white, like the first snowball. Also corrugated petals. And a white "heart" with chaotic yellow stripes. The beauty reaches a height of 30 cm, and in one spikelet inflorescence there can be up to 12 flowers. Has an unusually tart odor.
"Rose Marie"	The bush grows low, the peduncles reach a maximum height of 25 cm. The flowers are medium-sized, about 5 cm. The petals are bright crimson, the center is white with pink strokes. There are up to seven flowers in a spikelet.
"Pimperina"	The variety is mini, with peduncles barely 15 cm high. But it has large, six-centimeter flowers-bells. There are up to seven of them in the inflorescence. Rippled texture, dark red edge, yellow center with red shading. The aroma is subtle.

All varieties can be both smooth-petaled and double-flowered. Terry petals are arranged in several rows. In shops that sell seeds and bulbs, you can buy a mixed varietal mix that will make your balcony box, flowerpot or freesia flower bed fun, colorful, unpredictable and festive.

Freesia double red

How to grow

Although in cool latitudes, like ours, an African guest will feel more comfortable in a greenhouse, it is possible to grow freesia in an apartment or in an open garden bed. Growing can take place all year round. But if you have planted corms in a flower bed, they will have to be removed for the winter, and planted again in the spring, because they will not stand frost, even with shelter.

When growing a pot culture or a specially equipped greenhouse, the flowering of freesia can be timed to coincide with winter.

Freesia needs

Optimal conditions for planting and growing freesia

What a freesia sissy needs for successful flowering. Here are a few of the required parameters.

Light

At least 14 hours a day during all periods of development, except for the rest period. At the same time - no direct rays. Shading only. If there is additional lighting (in the winter months), also through shading (light transparent fabric or thin white paper).

By the way! Freesia does not tolerate drafts, so it must be protected from aggressive ventilation. To change the air in the room where freesia grows, it is best to open all possible windows, and at this time take the flower to another room.

The soil

The soil is suitable only for increased looseness. The bottom of the pot must be drained. The soil consists of five components: turf, sand, humus, peat, leafy earth. Necessarily non-acidic environment.

Primer for freesia

Temperature

Strictly + 22 ° C, no more until flowering, if you want it to come at all. During the period of pecking, germination of bulbs, the temperature should be 5-7 degrees below normal, but as soon as the leaves appear, it must be maintained at the specified level.

Moisture

Freesia loves not only moist air, but also moderately moist soil. It is better not to flood the bulbs, but a humid environment will promote better flower growth and the formation of large flowers. Freesia can be sprayed.Only when the flowers bloom, do not spray water directly on them, they can fall off.

By the way! You can cut freesia flowers already when the first two flowers bloom on the peduncle. The rest will bloom in a vase in the same way as in a pot. After flowering, dried flowers are removed so that nutrients are not consumed by the plant.

Air humidity and illumination

Support

Broken freesia is called so because it has weak stems that break easily. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a support for a flower of this type. Also tall species will need support.

Flower support

Growing in a pot

In home floriculture, freesia, like all bulbous ones, is not grown constantly, but for the sake of the winter flowering process. It is still snowing outside the window, in the courtyard it is time between the coming New Year, Valentine's Day and March 8, and on the windowsill you have a colorful fragrant garden.

1. To "African" bloom in January, corms are planted in early autumn, early September.
2. To bloom in February, planting, accordingly, must be shifted a month later, that is, to start in early October.
3. For flowering in March, freesia bulbs should be placed in a pot with soil, starting the forcing process, it is necessary in the last decade of October.

Before boarding

Rested, dry, undamaged bulbs that have been properly stored in your home or store at the proper temperature and air conditions must be soaked.

1. Soaking is carried out in an antibacterial solution, which can be made:

• from azotobacterin (0.05 g per 1 l of water);

  Azotobacterin

• potassium permanganate (0.01 g per 1 liter of water);

  Potassium permanganate

• boric acid (0.01 g per 1 liter of water).

  Boric acid

2. Soak for an hour. After that, rinse with plain water and treat again, this time with a growth stimulant, in the role of which "Epin" has proven itself best of all.

3. Prepare the pots. Flower pots with a diameter of at least 15 cm must be washed and disinfected (washed with soap, soda or rinsed with a solution of potassium permanganate).

4. A medium-sized expanded clay is placed at the bottom of the pot, there, if any, a little ash or charcoal is poured, a soil mixture is poured (see composition above).

5. Under the bottoms of the alleged bulbs, a stick of prolonged potassium-phosphorus fertilizer is buried two centimeters in depth.

6. In one fifteen-centimeter pot, you can plant up to six onions. If large - four.

Planting corms in a pot

7. The bulbs are placed in holes 5 cm deep, covered with loose soil.

8. The pot is placed in a cool place - no higher than + 15 ° C temperature. No watering required. Necessarily a lot of light. When the seedlings hatch, the pots move into warmth and watering begins.

Hatched freesia

Home freesia care

It is easier to grow freesia in an apartment than in a flower bed. You can control humidity and control temperature, fertilize on time and prevent disease.

Homemade freesia sprouts

In the autumn-winter period, it is enough not to forget to organize the lighting. For thin stems, build a support.

It is better to water it with room water, which has stood for two days. Spray with it.

Water freesias in the morning

During the heating season, you need to humidify the air additionally, using a humidifier or simple household appliances in the form of wet towels or pallets of water.

Top dressing is carried out every 14 days with mineral components as long as the leaves remain green.

Blooming freesia

After flowering

When the flowering ended, the leaves began to wither and turn yellow, the stem with the peduncle must be cut off, but watering should be continued for about one and a half months. This is necessary for the corm to give children. Of these, in two years you will receive full-fledged flowering plants. In the meantime, a month and a half after cutting the peduncle, watering is stopped.They are waiting for the soil to dry in the pot. The corms are removed with the children, disinfected with potassium permanganate, remove excess scales and put to dry.

Bulbs should be stored in mesh bags at + 20ºC… 25ºC and rather high humidity - up to 80%. One month before the next planting, the bulbs are placed in a cool place, where the temperature does not exceed +15 ºC.

Dig up the bulbs and place them in a cool, dry place

A few words about growing freesia in a flower bed

For planting on a flower bed, it is better to subject delicate freesias to a preliminary germination procedure at home. Everything is the same as when planting in a pot when growing in an apartment. Only the time is different. With the arrival of spring, in the first or second month, the disinfected and stimulated bulbs are placed in pots, preferably peat ones. They should be hatching when, in May, you start planting corms in the garden.

Planting - in holes, 6 cm deep. It is better to plant freesia side by side, literally at a five centimeter distance.

Planting corms on a flower bed

The soil between plantings is mulched. Care is carried out as for the rest of the flowers.

Your freesias will start blooming in August and continue to bloom if they like everything until October.

Cut freesias at the height of their bloom

Video - Preparing freesia bulbs for planting

Video - Growing freesia in the garden and at home

Freesia is an amazing bulbous plant native to South Africa that grows among shrubs and on the sides of water bodies. Because of its characteristic aroma, it is also called Cape lily of the valley. The flower got its name in honor of Friedrich Vries, a German doctor and botanist. For more than 200 years, freesia has held an honorable place among flower growers. The peculiarity of freesia is its delicate flowers of various colors, exuding a delicate, very pleasant aroma that relieves depression and relieves stress. Many perfumers use the freesia note to create perfume fragrances. It is quite easy to grow freesia on your plot or on the windowsill of an apartment if you know certain nuances of not only planting planting and proper care, but also storing the bulbs of this perennial plant belonging to the Iris family, which includes quite a few species - 20. You can grow carry out both in the open field and at home.

Growing freesia as a garden crop and indoor plant

Gardeners and lovers of indoor flowers, seeing freesia bulbs on sale, do not risk buying them, believing that this is a capricious plant that requires special growing conditions. But is it? Probably, it will be a discovery for many that freesia can be grown, by creating certain conditions and properly storing the bulbs, all year round, and there is no difference where it is grown: on a windowsill or a flower bed.

Blooming freesia - a fragrant plant

Indeed, for the successful vegetation of a plant, it needs a specific temperature regime, but in a city apartment and in an open field, freesia successfully takes root in central Russia, gives a green mass and pleases with flower stalks of extraordinary beauty, exuding a real spring aroma.

The value of freesia lies in its fragrant bright peduncles

The timing of the flowering of freesia depends solely on the timing of its planting. For example, to get the first bud by March 8, the bulbs must be planted in December or early January. But in order to enjoy the aroma and bright flowers of freesia in summer, it is planted in the ground no later than April, previously grown in a pot at a certain temperature.

Bouquet of freesias in a vase

This amazing plant can live on your windowsills and as a house flower for a while. The fact is that the value of freesia is in its peduncles, but the foliage and shape of the plant is completely unremarkable - it is somewhat remotely similar to the foliage of young garlic, i.e. there are no decorative qualities in the leaves.After the end of flowering, lasting a month or more, the plant takes on its most ordinary appearance. In addition, in this phase of development, freesia enters a state of dormancy, and its bulb ripens in a pot, gaining strength in order to please its owner with a new luxurious flowering during subsequent planting.

Freesias of different varieties are suitable for growing on a windowsill

Freesia types and popular varieties

Gardeners most often grow in flower beds or in pots hybrid freesia (Freesia hybrida), bred by crossing refracted and Armstrong freesia (Freesia refracta and Freesia armstrongii). All of these 3 species are the parents of dozens of varieties.

Freesia armstrongii

- a plant reaching a height of 65–70 cm. Flowers (scarlet, pink or red) bell-shaped, fragrant, collected in panicles of 3-5 pieces. The tube is white with yellow spots. The leaves are xiphoid, long. The varieties of this freesia bloom from May to June.

Cardinal is the most popular variety of this species. The flowers of the Cardinal are non-double red with a yellow spot, 70 cm high. The leaves are xiphoid, the pistil is blue, the stamens are yellow, and the palniki are purple. One adult bulb produces three peduncles, each with up to 11 flowers.

Freesia variety Cardinal

Fragrant freesia yellow with an orange spot

Freesia white, or refracted, or broken (Freesia refracta)

differs in miniature forms (no higher than 40 cm). The stems are thin, spreading, the inflorescence is a paniculate spike, in which there are 2–5 flowers of white or yellow-orange color. Blooms in April.

- freesia Alba (Freesia refracta var. Alba) - snow-white large flowers with purple strokes on a yellow background inside the throat;

- freesia fragrant (Freesia refracta odorata) - yellow freesia, in the inflorescence of 3-7 flowers with an orange spot at the base. Perceptibly smells like lily of the valley.

The Alba freesia variety is distinguished by its snow-white color.

Freesia hybrid (Freesia hybrida)

combines the best qualities of its ancestors. Its bush is tall (up to 1 m) and highly branched, the brushes consist of large (5–7 cm in diameter) fragrant flowers of purple, crimson, yellow and other shades, both monochromatic and two-colored.

- grade Ballerina - freesia white with yellowness at the base, corrugated petals. The pharynx is also white, with a yellow stripe. In inflorescences up to 12 flowers 5.5x6.5 cm in size. Peduncles 25–30 cm high. Possesses a delicate aroma;

- grade Rose Marie - peduncles 20–25 cm high, in inflorescences up to 7 flowers 4.5x4.5 cm of bright crimson color, in the lower part of the flower - white with crimson lines;

- grade Pimperina - peduncles are low (15–20 cm), in inflorescences up to 7 flowers 6x5.5 cm, petals are slightly corrugated, red with dark red edges. The bottom of the petals is yellow with red strokes. The aroma is inexpressive.

The Pimperina variety has a weak aroma, but a spectacular appearance of flowers.

Rosemary has become quite rare on the market.

Crimson vibrant freesia shade with crimson inlays at the base

Video: Types and varieties of freesias

All types described can be either simple or terry. The petals of a simple freesia are located in one row, and for a terry one - two and three rows. Freesia of any kind and variety grows equally in pots and in a flower bed. Therefore, there is no need to look for freesia for distillation in a pot, but it is still worth considering the size. For example, any sort of refracted (broken) freesia, due to a low peduncle, will look neat in a pot, and in the garden, with proper support, you will be delighted for a long time with varieties of hybrid freesia with a long peduncle and large flowers.

Terry freesia of different varieties

Reproduction methods used for garden and indoor flowers

Freesia reproduces in two ways: daughter bulbs and seeds. The first method is the fastest and least troublesome in obtaining flowering. Seed propagation is also possible, but it is very time consuming and difficult.

Ground and underground parts of freesia

Features of propagation by bulbs

Flowering is the beginning of the bulb's accumulation of strength in order to give a generous "harvest" in the form of flowering next time. At this time, babies begin to grow near the mother's bulb - from one piece or more. During the growing season, the mother bulb is completely reborn. Those.in fact, you get not the same bulb that was planted, but a completely new one - replaced. When the flowers begin to lose their decorative qualities, they must be cut off so that the plant will direct all its forces to the growth of the mother and daughter bulbs, and not to the formation of seeds. When the last flower has wilted, the plant is left dormant for another week, then dug up, cut off the tops, left to dry in a dry and well-ventilated room, and then as described in the section on storing the bulbs.

Freesia bulb with baby

The babies are separated from the mother's bulb, and they are laid separately. In the first year, the daughter bulbs will not bloom. They need to build mass. They are planted in a similar way as the mother bulbs, but in a separate place. That is, a separate area is allocated in the garden, where daughter bulbs are planted. They remain in the soil until the tops start wilting, after which they are dug up, washed, etched, dried and sent for further storage, as described below. "Babies" ripen in the garden at the same time as the mother's bulbs. Having gained strength and increased in size, they turned into adult bulbs, and in the next season they will give abundant flowering.

Abundant flowering of freesia in the garden in summer

In a closed ground, everything is the same as when describing planting in the garden. The difference fluctuates only in the timing of planting, which the apartment grower determines for himself. There is nothing more beautiful than blooming freesia in the winter-spring period, so the planting of adult bulbs should be in October. At the same time, it is necessary to plant daughter bulbs in a separate bowl, and care for them in the same way as for adults, realizing that when the mother's bulbs begin to bloom with might and main, the bowl with the children will be filled only with greens, which will gradually begin to fade (simultaneously with the beginning of the wilting of the peduncle and tops of mother bulbs).

In this state, a pot with children will look like

A short step-by-step scheme for propagation with bulbs:

1. Wait until the mother bulb begins to bloom and, as the flowers twist (wilt), cut them off.

Peduncle image after flowers wilting

2. After the tops have wilted (September-October), dig up the bulbs, arrange them in a row, without breaking the tops, in a warm, but well-ventilated room for a week.

Dug up freesia bulbs with tops

3. Peel the foliage from the bulbs and separate the babies. They are easily torn off with your fingers without damaging the mother's bulb. Pickle in any fungicide according to the instructions.

Washed freesia bulbs

4. Leave for storage for two months in a warm place, where the temperature is at least 25-30 degrees. Only under this condition does the bud of a peduncle form in the bulb. For example, you can put the bulbs in a linen bag and hang them on the side of the battery. Not on the battery itself, otherwise the bulbs will simply dry out, namely on the side pipe. Place a container with water on the floor under the bag, which will provide the necessary moisture to the bulbs. High temperature (30 degrees) and high humidity (70%) are the main storage conditions.

Thus, you can warm up the freesia bulbs, preparing them for further storage.

5. After that, you can move the bulbs in an open container, paper or linen sachet for further storage in a room where the temperature is stable at least 20 degrees.

Freesia Bulbs Prepared for Storage

6. For an apartment: daughter bulbs are planted at any time from August to November.

For the garden: plant the bulbs in a separate place in the garden in early April. If the temperature exceeds 17 degrees, the leaves of the plant lengthen, and the peduncle decreases, or may not appear at all. Thus, the plant should germinate before the appearance of the peduncle (5 weeks from the moment of planting) in a cool, light and high humidity environment. This rule also applies to growing freesia in an apartment in a pot.

7.Both apartments and for the garden: wait for the yellowing of the foliage and dig up the bulbs.

8. Repeat points: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Now (after a year) you can admire the flowering of daughter bulbs.

Seed propagation

Few people resort to this method, since its implementation will take a long time (it takes a year from planting seeds to the appearance of peduncles), but it is quite feasible. Sowing seeds in a pot is best done at the beginning of spring - the period when all nature awakens.

Freesia seeds

Sowing seeds is as follows:

1. In March, seeds soaked in water for a day are sown in a nutritious and moderately moist mixture of humus, peat and sand in equal parts (or a special substrate for bulbous plants), sprinkling them with a layer of earth no more than two centimeters. The pot must have good drainage from expanded clay. Freesia does not tolerate stagnant water.

A pot filled with drainage and earth

2. The container is covered with cling film or glass, opening twice a day for ventilation and condensation removal. Seeds should germinate at room temperature 20-25 degrees.

The greenhouse effect is obtained when the container with the planted seeds is covered with glass or foil

3. After 10 days, the first shoots appear. During this period, the soil should not be allowed to dry out by spraying it from a spray bottle, often ventilate the container with seeds, and after a month, remove the glass or film altogether.

The stage of picking freesia seedlings

4. At the beginning of May, the entire container will be filled with greens, and it is time for picking seedlings. To do this, take a more spacious container and plant the seedlings at a distance of 3-5 centimeters. Freesia has delicate and fragile sprouts, so you need to be careful when picking. A container with seedlings can be placed on the balcony, but protected from gusts of wind.

The first shoots of freesia

5. When the temperature drops to 10 degrees Celsius, the container is brought into a warm room and regular watering is continued, feeding the seedlings twice a month with any complex fertilizer for flowering plants. You cannot overfeed freesias - they react badly to excess fertilizers.

Abundant freesia greens ready for peduncle emergence

6. In February, freesia for such a long wait and careful care will generously endow you with long flowering and bright colors, as well as the most beautiful and delicate aroma. It should be borne in mind that an adult plant needs support.

Lush bloom of freesia in a pot

7. After the plant has faded, the peduncles are cut off, leaving the bulb in the pot to ripen. Watering must be reduced, and by the middle of summer it must be stopped altogether.

Bulbs after cut wilted tops

8. In August, remove the bulbs from the soil and leave to dry, as described above. For winter forcing, these bulbs can be planted in early October.

Bright colors of summer and spring aroma in frosty winter can only be given by freesia

Garden freesia: planting bulbs and care according to the seasons

There is no concept of indoor freesia or garden freesia. This is one plant that, under certain conditions, can be grown both in a pot and in a garden.

When and how to plant plants

In central Russia, freesia bulbs are planted in early or mid-April in a place where there is no direct sun, i.e. in partial shade. Freesia is photophilous (it needs light 12 hours a day), but it cannot stand the bright sun. If you plant the bulbs later, there is a high risk of getting too weak peduncles or not seeing them at all. Freesia germinates, gains a green mass and throws out a peduncle at a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius, but abundant flowering should occur at a higher temperature - 25 degrees.

Blooming white freesia in the garden

Some growers suggest first sprouting freesia at home, before its final planting in a flower bed, but this step is not required in the agricultural technique of this plant.Starting planting, it is advisable to clean the bulbs of scales and pickle them in a solution of potassium permanganate for 30 minutes (for 2 liters of water at the tip of a knife) or any fungicide according to the instructions, because if this is not done, adult plants can be infected with thrips or fungal diseases. Damaged or stained bulbs are discarded. Next, the bulbs are planted in a pot at the end of February in fertile soil (as suggested by experienced gardeners), or immediately in the ground no later than mid-April.

Etching the bulbs in a weak solution of potassium permanganate will provide them with protection against fungal diseases and rot.

Video: preparing freesia bulbs for planting

The planting scheme is as follows: depth - 3 cm, distance between plants - 3-5 centimeters, row spacing - 15 centimeters.

It should be borne in mind that freesia does not tolerate stagnant water, so the plant needs to provide good drainage. To do this, draw a furrow 15 centimeters deep, scatter expanded clay on its bottom in 1 layer, cover it with food soil, place the bulbs on it with sprouts up (or lay out already sprouted plants with leaves with a lump of earth), and sprinkle it with earth to the end of the furrow.

Planting pre-germinated freesias in open ground

Video: planting freesia in open ground

How to care during growth and flowering

If freesia is planted in fertile soil, you do not need to overdo it with top dressing - freesia does not react well to excess fertilizers, but after germination the plants need to be fed with ammonium nitrate (20 grams per bucket of water), and then, if desired, fed once or twice a month plant fertilizer for flowering.

Weeding and loosening is another important consideration in growing freesia. During the period of active growth and the appearance of a peduncle, freesia is watered very abundantly. The earth should not dry out, but stagnation of water should be avoided.

Abundant flowering of freesia in the garden

Freesia is a fragile plant, its peduncles easily break under the weight of the flowers, therefore, as soon as the leaves begin to disintegrate, they need to be supported with a taut twine.

Freesia twine example

If a high temperature has risen outside, and the air humidity has dropped significantly, freesia is sprayed from a spray bottle. It is important to do this in the evening or very early in the morning: the leaves must have time to absorb moisture.

Sprinkling freesia or spraying provides the necessary moisture to the plant

Freesia can be affected by diseases and pests that are characteristic of gladioli: spider mites, thrips, aphids, fusarium, scab and various rot. Plants affected by fungal diseases are immediately removed from the flower bed. Disinfection at the beginning of storage and before planting solves all these problems. And insecticides cope with pests at an early stage of detection.

How to prepare a plant for winter + storage of bulbs

As the flowers drop and the tops get stuck, watering is reduced, and then they stop altogether, leaving the bulbs until the first possible frost in the ground (early October). In central Russia, freesia does not withstand wintering in the ground. In the south, bulbs can be left to winter in a flower bed, but it is still very risky. If you decide not to bother with the digging, then freesia must be covered with a layer of mulch of 20 centimeters from straw or fallen leaves, but this may not save the bulbs from frost.

The most reliable way to preserve the bulbs until next season is to dig them out, cut off all the leaves, rinse, place in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for an hour and leave to dry in a dry room for up to 5 days.

Placing freesia bulbs for further storage

To prevent the bulbs from getting lost in the ground, and it was easy to remove them from there, there is one tricky, but very convenient trick: the bulbs are planted in boxes with holes all over the surface, and then they are dug into the ground. These boxes are used to deliver citrus fruits to supermarkets.Firstly, by planting the bulbs in boxes, you will provide the plants with good drainage by scattering expanded clay to the bottom, and will not clog the soil in the flower bed with it. Secondly, with the onset of cold weather, the box is easily removed from the flower bed, and it will not be difficult to find all the mother and daughter bulbs in it to the last.

Using the example of tulips planted in boxes, you can see how bulbs are planted in boxes that are buried in the ground

The storage of the bulbs takes place at a temperature of 20-25 degrees and at high humidity (60-70%) - this is the most important condition for the formation of the future peduncle in the bulb. Mother and daughter bulbs must be separated from each other immediately. The mother bulb will give color in the next season, and the daughter one in a year, but on condition that it is planted at the same time as the mother, but in a separate place. To feel the breath of spring in winter, some of the collected mother bulbs can be planted in a pot on your windowsill. This is called the spring forcing of freesia.

blooming freesia in a pot on a windowsill

Solving the problems of growing freesia in the garden

Freesia has one peculiarity: it must go through a long rest period of 3 months at high humidity and temperature. If this condition is violated, the bulb has not gained enough strength, therefore, it will not sprout at all, and when you dig it, you can find the formation of several daughter onions.

The reason why freesia does not bloom is also not observing the temperature regime. And such a plant will not be helped by any feeding, transplanting or anything else. As a rule, sellers store bulbs in the refrigerator, so they need to ensure that they warm up. In addition, freesia will not throw out the peduncle if the entrances have already appeared, but there was a sudden bad weather, and the temperature dropped below three degrees Celsius. Also, at too high a temperature in the first 5 weeks, freesia refuses to bloom. Mid-May is late for planting freesia in the garden.

If the freesia leaves lodged, then the temperature outside is too high. The reason for the yellowing and drying out tips of the leaves of the plant is excessive or insufficient watering. At low humidity, the plant also gives a signal with yellow tips of the leaves. In addition, a large amount of dressing may not have the best effect on the condition of the plant.

Freesia at home: caring for a flower that grows at home on a windowsill

Any type of freesia can be grown in a pot, but hybrids are best suited for this purpose. It is quite easy to grow a plant in the middle of winter that exudes purity, freshness and crazy colors of summer, knowing a few subtleties.

Pink freesia in a pot will relieve winter depression

How to plant freesia in a pot

Before planting freesia in a pot, the bulbs that have passed the period of correct temperature storage are peeled from the husk to avoid the occurrence of fungal diseases and kept for an hour in any disinfecting solution (fungicide). Planting freesias and obtaining flowering indoors can occur in 3 different seasons: normal flowering (from mid-August to mid-October); earlier flowering (from mid-May to mid-August); late flowering (mid-November to mid-February).

Young Freesia seedlings in a pot require special attention in the first 5 weeks

Video: freesia two weeks after planting

Important steps for planting freesia in a winter forcing pot:

1. In October, expanded clay is placed on the bottom of the pot without holes, but if the pot has good holes for draining excess water, then this is not necessary.
2. In a ready-made moisture-absorbing substrate for bulbous or home-made soil from peat, leaf, humus and sod soil, the bulbs are planted to a depth of 3 cm and a distance of 3-5 cm. There is no need to cover the pot with foil.
3. Place the container with the planted bulbs in a well-ventilated area where the temperature does not exceed 15 degrees.
4. After the emergence of seedlings, feed the plants with a complex mineral composition, and then repeat the feeding twice a month.
5. Establish a support for emerging leaves.
6. After flowering, cut off all the tops and gradually stop watering, leaving the bulbs to ripen.

Table: Conditions for keeping freesia depending on the season: lighting, humidity, temperature

Features of watering, feeding

Freesia is sensitive to watering. You cannot overfill it, as well as underfill. The soil is moistened as it dries, but not completely dry. It is best to water the freesia from below by placing the pot with young shoots in a container into which to pour water to the bottom.

It is necessary to feed freesia every two weeks with a standard mineral complex for flowers. Too frequent feeding of freesia is harmful. She will "tell" about it, showing the yellowing leaves.

The solution to frequently occurring problems with indoor freesias: treatment of diseases and pests

Table: pests peculiar to freesia

Untreated freesia bulbs can be affected by various types of rot or fungal diseases, of which there are a great many. To avoid diseases, it is enough to process the bulbs in antifungal drugs after digging and before planting, and also to remove the husks from them without fail.

Photo gallery: pests characteristic of freesia

Table: diseases peculiar to freesia

Fusarium and scab defeat on the example of gladiolus bulbs

Useful reviews about growing freesias in a pot and outdoors

Freesia is a graceful plant that many associate with spring. Unfortunately, this flower has gained fame as a capricious plant, but this is a misconception. Freesia is really sensitive to temperature conditions during bulb storage and growth, but it is quite possible to grow it both in the garden and in a pot on the windowsill, observing certain rules. It is better to plant freesia in the garden in April, and in the spring in October. So you will surely be able to enjoy the long flowering and unforgettable aroma of this delicate plant.

My name is Yelena. Writing is probably my calling, and gardening is a balm for my soul. Rate the article:

(2 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

1. How to grow freesia at home
2. Stages of planting freesia in pots
3. Freesia potted care
4. What problems can arise while caring for freesia at home

One of the advantages of growing freesia in a pot is that it can be done in different climatic zones. A characteristic advantage of this particular flower is flowering in early spring or even in winter. Its flowering time depends on when you plant the freesia bulbs.

How to grow freesia at home

To grow this beautiful flower in a pot at home, two methods are used:

1. Growing a plant from seeds;
2. Planting bulbs directly in pots.

Seeds. As a rule, housewives plant hybrid freesia seeds in late spring. Consider, the fresher you use the material, the faster the plant will begin to germinate. Very often, housewives are faced with the fact that they do not know how to plant freesia in a pot using seeds.

So, for this, you will initially need to keep the seeds a little in a solution of potassium permanganate, the liquid should be at room temperature. They need to be planted in large containers or special containers in which there will be steamed compost. In principle, you can also use a special soil specifically for freesia.

After planting, the boxes must be tightly covered with polyethylene to create the effect of a mini-greenhouse. Do not forget to open the film every day and air the seeds a little. If you follow all the recommendations, then the first steams will begin, wither in 2-3 weeks from the moment of planting. When you begin to notice the first steams, you need to periodically loosen the ground and do not forget to fertilize them with potassium and phosphorus. Fortified shoulder straps must be carefully dived and seated separately in different pots.

Watch the video on how to plant flower bulbs in pots.

Bulbs. Based on the time period for planting the bulbs, the flowering of freesia can be achieved even in winter. If you do not know when freesia blooms at home, then you can use these tips. For freesia to bloom for the New Year holidays, it is best to plant the bulbs in early September. And if you want to get bloom in February (for example, for Valentine's Day), then start planting in the first days of October. For freesia to bloom for the 8th of March, it should be planted in early November.

But, nevertheless, do not forget that the timing of planting corms can be very different, since some types of freesia need a longer period of distillation from five to six months. Before planting the bulbs, they need to be soaked in a disinfectant solution, by the way, it is better to choose the largest options.

Stages of planting freesia in pots

When asked how to plant freesia bulbs at home, it is also very important to use the correct size pots. It is better to use a deep container with a diameter of 15-20 centimeters. Planting freesia bulbs in the country should be carried out in the following sequence:

1. First, wash and disinfect the pot well;
2. Put a small layer of expanded clay or a little pebble mixed with wood ash on the bottom of the container. Such soil bedding will prevent possible acidification of the earth or its rotting;
3. Pour earth into a pot. Some housewives recommend adding a small stick of potassium-phosphorus fertilizer to the place where the plant bulb will be planted. This stick will allow you to fertilize the plant less often in the future;
4. When planting, the bulbs should be placed about five centimeters from each other. As for the depth, they also need to be deepened by five centimeters. Sprinkle the onion with loose soil on top. Pots with planted bulbs should be placed in a room with a temperature of at least +15 degrees.

Read about growing standard roses.
And also about growing feijoa at home.

Freesia potted care

After you have planted the bulbs and the first shoots have begun to appear on your plant, you need to pay special attention to caring for this flower. It is imperative to follow these recommendations:

• Adequate lighting supply. Since this plant needs good and long-term lighting, housewives recommend installing special lamps, since in winter there is simply not enough natural light for this flower;
• Optimal watering. The flower needs to be watered every other day, but not too abundantly. Excess water that flows into the pan must be poured out to prevent excessive moisture in the soil. It is better to water and spray the leaves of the plant in the morning;
• Fertilizer. You need to actively feed the plant from the moment the first buds appear and until the period when the leaves begin to turn yellow. It is recommended to fertilize the plant once every two weeks.

What problems can arise while caring for freesia at home

It is much easier to care for freesia at home, so you can independently regulate the temperature in the room, control the level of humidity, fertilize and protect the flower from various diseases in time. During the care of freesia in a pot, most often the plant is exposed to such pests as:

• Aphid;
• Small spider mite;
• Thrips.

To combat these pests, it is better to use special means that are designed to destroy pests in a comprehensive manner, since the hostess cannot always see which pest is detrimental to the plant. Most often, this plant is subject to diseases such as:

1. Rotting. This disease occurs as a result of exposure to various types of fungi. To prevent such a nuisance, it is appropriate to treat the plant with a fungicide;
2. A disease that leads to necrosis of flowers and leaves of a plant.Unfortunately, such diseases cannot be cured, in which case the hostess must immediately dig up and burn the entire plant bush in order to prevent the possibility of the spread of the disease.

Most often, diseases of this plant arise as a result of the fact that the hostess does not know how to care for freesia in a pot, or rather does not adhere to the rules of agricultural technology and processing of planting material, as a result, similar problems may arise.

Thus, in conclusion, we can say that all of the above recommendations and tips will help you understand how to grow freesia from bulbs and seeds.

Share your experience of growing freesia in a pot yourself in the comments. And also watch a video about planting bulbous flowers, which include freesia.

Freesia, or freesia, is a bulbous plant. Usually it is grown outdoors, but many growers practice forcing at home. The plant is capricious, difficult to care for. A lot of effort will have to be made in order to achieve flowering. Growing and caring for freesia at home is carried out strictly according to the rules. You will learn about them from this article.

Description of the flower

A beautifully flowering plant. Leaves are linear, funnel-shaped flowers, fragrant. The height of the flower is from 30 to 60 cm. The flowers are quite large, of various colors. The flower owes its name to the German doctor Frees.

Belongs to corms of the family Iris (Iris). It grows mainly in the Cape region of South Africa, tropical regions of Africa. One of the species was introduced from Sudan. In natural conditions, the bulbs doze for a long time in the ground until the start of the rainy season. With the appearance of moisture in the soil, they begin to actively develop, they release flower stalks with beautiful flowers. In a drought, the aboveground part dies off completely, the bulbs go into a dormant state.

Interesting! Freesias were brought to Europe a long time ago - two centuries ago. They were actively cultivated in gardens, then migrated to window sills, began to be grown as a houseplant. Freesia contains essential oils used in perfumery. When cut, the flower retains its freshness for a long time.

What freesias can you grow at home?

Before growing freesia from a bulb at home, it is recommended to decide on a variety. Although information about the moodiness of the flower is exaggerated. The plant, which grows naturally in a desert climate, easily adapts to the conditions of apartments. You just need to help him by creating a favorable microclimate.

For home breeding, hybrid freesia is suitable. It combines the characteristics of at least two types - broken freesia and Armstrong. Sometimes they are grown on their own, but require more careful maintenance. The most common "home" variety is Freesia hibrida. The task of flower growers has been simplified with the introduction of hybrid hardy varieties of Dutch selection on the market. They were bred specifically for growing freesia at home.

Advice! Even before the buds appear, supports are installed. They use special suspended structures, pegs. The tapestries can be disguised - painted green. Some support the peduncles with transparent, thick fishing line. The flowers are heavy, without support, they will lie on the ground.

Landing time and technique

Viable bulbs are selected before planting. They are dense to the touch, there are no signs of rot, the optimal size is 1-2.5 cm. For two weeks, the bulbs are kept at 25-27 ° C in conditions of low humidity (you can put them on a high cabinet - it's warm and dry there).

Immediately before planting, a weak solution of potassium permanganate is prepared, the bulbs are soaked in it. Potassium permanganate can be replaced with a 0.2% solution of foundationol. Do not peel off the top scales from the bulbs! The soil is spilled with a solution of potassium permanganate, phytosporin or ignited. Next, adhere to the following sequence of actions:

• Drainage holes are made at the bottom of the pot.Lay a layer of drainage - expanded clay, pebbles, brick chips. Pour the prepared soil, leaving 6 cm to the edge.
• The soil is watered. Corms are placed in a pot at a distance of 3-5 cm from each other (depending on size). The sharp tip should point upwards.
• Pour the soil mixture, deepening the bulbs by 2 cm.

Germination is expected in 2-3 weeks. The pot is kept in a moderately warm place at 16-18 ° C. With the emergence of sprouts, bright lighting is provided. The flowering time depends on the variety and planting time. For example, when planted in late October, flowering will occur in early March.

Advice! Freesia is considered a "companionable" plant. She does not like too much free space. Therefore, it is recommended to plant at least 5 bulbs in one pot. Choose a pot low and wide.

Care features

Inexperienced growers often have to deal with a lack of flowering. Taking proper care of your freesia at home will help you avoid this.

• Temperature. During the growth period 20-25 ° C. After pruning, the peduncle continues to be kept warm for 1-2 months. After the bulbs are dug up and stored at 15 ° C.
• Lighting. Intense sunlight without shading. Lack of light results in slow growth, little or no flowering.
• Watering. Moderate in the bulb germination phase, abundant in the flowering phase. Excessive dampness leads to rotting of the bulbs. Make sure the top layer of the potting mix is ​​dry before watering.
• Humidity. The increased humidity is favorable for growth and flowering. In the heat, they are sprayed more often and more abundantly. Immediately after spraying, they shade from the sun for a while to exclude leaf burns.
• The soil. Ready-made soil mixture for bulbous plants is suitable. Independently, the substrate is prepared from humus, leafy earth, peat, fine gravel with a fraction of 2-3 mm.
• Top dressing. Every two weeks throughout the growing season and flowering. It is recommended to use the drugs Agricola or Fertika-Lux.

Important! After flowering, take your time to trim the withered foliage. Over the next few weeks, freesia will form bulbs, preparing for the next growth and flowering. Even in withered leaves, the processes of photosynthesis continue.

Reproduction technique

Freesia is an indoor culture, easy to reproduce. The choice of flower growers is offered in two ways - by seeds and corms.

• Seeds. Used to grow a new hybrid variety. Before sowing, the seeds are soaked for a day in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. The boxes are filled with nutrient soil. The optimal composition is equal amounts of leafy soil and turf. Seeds are spread over the surface, lightly sprinkled with earth. Under glass or plastic wrap, seedlings appear faster - after 3 weeks. Young seedlings continue to be kept under cover for some time to maintain a consistently high humidity. For active growth, they are fed weekly with phosphorus and potassium.
• Corms. In the process of growth, the main bulb gives birth to children. They can be neatly separated and used for planting in a separate pot. Before planting, the bulbs are kept in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for half an hour and dried. They plant several pieces in a pot, deepening by an average of 5 cm. Watering begins only after the emergence of sprouts.

Advice! Freesia bulbs must not be stored in the refrigerator or underground! High humidity will render the planting material unusable.

Growing difficulties, pests and diseases

You rarely have to face problems, but this possibility cannot be ruled out. It is recommended to periodically carry out preventive treatment with low dosages of fungicides, insecticides, observe the conditions for keeping the flower.

Diseases: fusarium, rot, scab, freesia virus, bean virus.	They are manifested by rotting of the bulbs, the appearance of spots on the leaves, and the absence of flowering.	In all cases, it is recommended to carry out repeated treatment with fungicides. A plant in a neglected state cannot be reanimated.
Pests: spider mites and aphids.	The leaves become sticky, curl, their back side is covered with a cobweb.	With a weak lesion, the plant is washed with soapy water. If it is strong, it is sprayed with insecticides.
Care errors	With hypothermia, the leaves dry up, starting from the central leaves. Deformation of flowers indicates a violation of the keeping regime during the budding period.	They try to strictly follow all the requirements of the flower for care and maintenance conditions.

Freesia is capricious, but not as much as beginner growers think. Therefore, it can be seen more and more often on window sills in apartments. It looks great as a free-standing plant or in composition with other indoor flowers.